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SNARE DRUM.

Patented June 6, 1882.

Fig. 5.

INVENTOH:

WITNESSES:

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.HENRY O. DOBSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SNARE-DRUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,899, dated June 6, 1882.

Application filed February 23, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. DOBSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drums, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of certain improvements in snare-drums.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical n1id-seotion of a snare-drum provided with myimprovements, the section being taken parallel with the snare. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a part of the lower or snare head of the drum. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the snare-head out at right angles to the snare. Fig. 4 is a vertical fragmentary section taken in the same plane as Fig. 1.

A is the drum-body; B B, the parchment heads, and O O the straining-hoops. On each end of the body A is placed a sheet-metal ring or bell, I), over which the parchment head is strained. This bell is of the shape shown best in Figs. 1 and 4, having a cylindrical flange, a, fitting over the drum-body, a swelled annular porticn, I), over which the parchment is flexed, and afree cylindrical flange, 0, projecting toward theinside of the drum. This flange 0, being out of contact with all other parts of the drum, is free to vibrate with its own peculiar bell-like ring, which adds greatly to the resonance of the drum and renders its sound less harsh. 1

In my Patent No. 249,321, dated November 8,1881, I have described the application to the batterhead of a drum of the metal ring or bell D here shown. I now propose to apply this bell also to the snare-head, whereby several important advantages are gained and the instrument is greatly improved.

E is the snare commonly employed on drums to cross the under parchment head and by the vibration of its strings to prolong and amplify the sound. I extend this snare over the bell D, whereby the snare and hell are caused to vibrate together and cooperate to improve the tone of the instrument. I further provide the lower bell with two opposite depressions, d d,

(shown in Figs. 2 and 3,) for the reception of the snare, so that the latter may, when it flexes over the bell, lie flush with the general plane of the head, whereby its contact with the latter at its center is insured and rattling is prevented. The parchmentisdrawninto these depressions d cl by the tightening of the snare.

In drums as commonly made the tension of the snare, as it is strained tightly across the head in diametrical direction, tends always to draw the snarehead out of shape, forcing the body of the drum into an elliptical shape in cross-section, the snare crossing the minor axis of the ellipse. In my drum this strain of the snare is resisted by the bell D on the snarehead, which by its stiffness is well prepared to resist a lateral strain. Hence my improved drum is retained always in shape, the snarehead is never unequally stretched by the tension of the snare, and the durability of the drum is increased. Further, by applying the bell to both heads of the drum the volume and duration of the sound it emits are measurably increased by sympathetic vibration.

The flange u of the bell may be omitted, and the edge of the bell may rest on the end of the body; or, if the latteris of metal, the bell may be soldered to it.

Between the bell and the drum-body I prefer to interpose a metal band, g, which is let into a rabbet in the d rum-body, and has a bead ed edge resting on the top of the body. This insulates the wooden body from the bell and adds to the tone of the drum.

The hoops C O are drawn together by the usual cords, cc, and their slides,or by anyother good means, and the snare may be tightened by the usual screw, f, or otherwise.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a drum, the combination of body A, snare-head B, sheet-metal bell D, consisting essentially of annular portion 1) and flange a, or equivalent means of connection with the drum-body, as described, interposed between the body A and snare-head B, and the snare E, strained across said bell, whereby the distorting tendency of the tension of the snare is resisted and the drum-body is retained in shape, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of drum-body A, parchment head B, sheet-metal bell D, having de 5 pressions d d, snare E, and means for tightening said parchment and snare, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof l have hereunto signed my namein the presence oftwo subscrlbingwitmesses.

HENRY O. DOBSON.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR G. FRAsER, HENRY CONNETT. 

